Schierholtz a big hit after play in Olympics

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Photo: Frederic J. Brown, AFP / Getty Images

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Nate Schierholtz (R) of the US barrells into Chinese catcher Yang Yang (L) to score off a hit by Terry Tiffee in their men's preliminary round baseball game at the Wukesong Baseball Venue during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 18, 2008. The US won 9-1. less

Nate Schierholtz (R) of the US barrells into Chinese catcher Yang Yang (L) to score off a hit by Terry Tiffee in their men's preliminary round baseball game at the Wukesong Baseball Venue during the 2008 ... more

Photo: Frederic J. Brown, AFP / Getty Images

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Nate Schierholtz of the US (R) heads to the dugout after barrelling into Chinese catcher Yang Yang to score off a hit by Terry Tiffee in the bottom of the sixth inning in their men's preliminary round baseball game at the Wukesong Baseball Venue during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 18, 2008. AFP PHOTO /Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) less

Nate Schierholtz of the US (R) heads to the dugout after barrelling into Chinese catcher Yang Yang to score off a hit by Terry Tiffee in the bottom of the sixth inning in their men's preliminary round baseball ... more

"I wish more of our guys would play like that up here," hitting coach Carney Lansfordsaid. "It's not their custom to play like that in China. Hey, that's the way we play it in America. I like seeing it. The old thing you hear about nice guys? They finish last."

Schierholtz played 88 games for Triple-A Fresno before joining Team USA, which beat China 9-1 on Monday. Schierholtz went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He scored twice, including the time he knocked over Yang on a sacrifice fly.

The game was heated and included seven plunkings (including Schierholtz) and three ejections, including China manager Jim Lefebvre(a Giants coach in the early 1980s), who vehemently objected to Schierholtz's slide.

The Giants will promote Schierholtz in September. At Fresno, the right fielder hit .314 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs and made one error. In a season in which the Giants have used 19 rookies (15 making their big-league debuts), Schierholtz didn't get a call to the majors.

"I'm sure it was frustrating for him to see all the other young guys (called) up to the big leagues; I hope he understands why," said Lansford, referring to management's preference to keep Schierholtz in Triple-A so he'd play regularly. "Probably the most positive thing is to watch all those young guys get called up and not let it affect his state of mind.

"If you're not going to be called up to the big leagues, it's nice to have the Olympic experience."

Schierholtz, 24, debuted in the majors last year and hit .304 with no homers in 39 games.

The next Lincecum?: Lefty Madison Bumgarnerwon pitcher-of-the-week honors for a fifth time in the South Atlantic League. He has a 28-inning scoreless streak, and eight of his starts resulted in shutout victories.

Bumgarner was the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft, one year after Tim Lincecumwas selected 10th. Lincecum was a college pick. Bumgarner, 19, is out of South Caldwell High School in North Carolina, so his rise won't be as rapid.

At Class A Augusta, he's 13-3 - same as Lincecum's record - with a 1.52 ERA, lowest in the minors. Lincecum has 192 strikeouts (64 walks) in 1692/3 innings, Bumgarner has 145 K's (20 walks) in 1301/3 innings.

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